Hand regulator or switch for motors



(No Model.)

B. E. KELLER. HAND REGULATOR OR SWITCH FOR MOTORS.

No. 519,715. Patented May 15,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL E. KELLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAND REGULATOR OR SWITCH FOR MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,715, dated May15,1894.

Application filed July 12,1893. Serial No. 480,226- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL E. KELLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Hand Regulators or Switches for Motors, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches or regulators for applying acurrent to motors, and has for its object to provide certain new anduseful improvements which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherem- Figure 1 is a cross section on the line 1, 1. Fig. 2 is a planview with parts in cross section and other parts broken away, taken onthe line 2, 2. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of the permanentconnections between the mercury cups, armature and field coils. Fig. 4is a diagrammatic view of the cups and permanent connections, and inaddition, the connections made between the cups by the depending piecesand bars J on plate J. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the mercury cupsand permanent connections, and in addition, the connections made by theother plate J Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the dash pot. Fig. 7 is aview of plate J from beneath.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all the figures.

The device which I have here illustrated, is particularly adapted foruse in connection with the motors applied to perambulators and othersuch vehicles; and A is a box frame preferably secured beneath the dooror cover B, and having the cross shaft 0 at the bottom thereof,supported upon the frame pieces D, D. Pivoted to this cross shaft arethe two pieces E, E, shaped as shown, each having the upwardlyprojecting arm F, and the forwardly projecting arm G, which is providedwith a foot H, secured to the plates J, J On the exterior of each of thepieces E, is the rod K, suitably supported in any desired manner. Theframe plates D, D, are upwardly turned and preferably channel shaped ateach end, as indicated at L, L and L, L. They are connected at one endby the yoke piece M, which carries the long tubular bearing N, throughwhich passes the rod 0. This rod carries at its outer end the block P,and

and are adapted to engage the pieces E, E.

Beneath the plate J, J, is the rod V, which passes through the plate W,and carries the piston W, in the dash pot W X, X, are a series of plateswith suitable terminals, each carrying one of the mercury cups X, X X X5 6 7 X8, 9 10 11 12 13 14 there being fourteen in all, which cupsproject through and depend from the plate W. Y, Y, areaseries of circuitclosing devices which depend from transverse bars J, J on the plates J,J and pass into mercury cups X, to X. These depending devices are ofvarious lengths, with a uniform depth of mercury in the cups, or theymay be of uniform lengths with varying depths of mercury in the cups.There are two sets of these, one set on each side, and associated withone of the bars J, J.

Each of the mercurycups is electrically independent of the others,except as connected by the conductors F (Fig. 3) or through the circuitclosers Y, Y, and strips J, J, and each is mounted upon the insulationbase W. A is the armature; B the storage battery or other source ofelectricity; (3 the field magnet winding; D and E resistances; F F areconductors secured by suitable binding posts to the ends of the mercurycups, and to the various devices, so as to form a series of circuitssubstantially as shown.

In considering the use and operation of the invention, first examineFig. 3, which will show the permanent connections. It will be found thatno circuit can be made through them as they stand. Next examine Fig. 4,which will show the connections as made in the event of the currentbeing directed through the motor in one direction, and Fig. 5 in likemanner shows the current directed through the motor in the oppositedirection.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: Having reference,first, to Fig. 3, assume that the motor is idle, and that the armatureis to be started in a certain direction,so as to propel the machineforward. It

other terminal of the battery B must, equally, be assumed 'that thecircuit closers Y, Y are all of them out of contact with the mercury intheir respective cups. They and their supporting parts are held in anelevated position by means of the spring catches T, T, engaging the rodsK, K. If, now, a push button or other circuit closer, connected with theconductors U, be operated so as to close a local circuit, the propermagnet U, will be energized and its armature T, be withdrawn, so as torelease the plate J, associated therewith, and permit the sameto drop,under the influence of gravity and the action of the spring S. By reasonoi": the diversity of lengths of circuit closers, or diversity in thequantities of mercuryin the several cups, certain circuit closers willtouch the mercury in their opposed cups at a given moment, and at suchmoment two circuits, one through the armature and one through fieldcoils will be formed, (orone could be form ed slightly in advance ofother.) In Fig. 4, these circuits may be traced as indicated by thearrows, as follows, (it being understood that X X X X and X, are mercurycups associated with long circuit closers:) from the battery B tomercury cup X thence along the circuit closer Y and the bar or conductorJ, to cup X thence through the resistance coil E thence through theconductor F leading from said cup to the armature A; thence in thedirection indicated by the arrow to the cup X thence through the mercuryin such cupinto the long circuit closer Y; thence across the associatestrip or conducting rod J, to the mercury cup X and thence as indicatedby the arrow, along the conductor F, to the Thus the armature is placedin the circuit but in series with the resistance E At the same time, theother circuit formed leads as follows: from the battery through thefield magnets C thence along conductor F to the mercury cup X thencethrough the resistance D to the mercury cup X thence on the long circuitcloser to the strip J, thence along conductor F to the mercury cup X andthence to the other terminal of the battery, thus placing the fieldmagnetin circuit, but in series with its resistance D If the motion becontinued further, as of course it will be by the further descent of theplate J, until all of the circuit closers are in contact with themercury in their respective op posed mercury cups, the two resistanceswill be cut out of circuit, for the cups X and X, will now be directlyconnected through the conducting strip J, resting upon their upperextremities, and in like manner the cups X and X will be connectedtogether. By pulling upon the rod 0, which of course would be associatedwith a suitable handle or controllinglever (not here shown),the plateJwillbe raised untilitislockedin an elevated position by there-engagement of its associated rod K, with the spring catch T. This, ofcourse, takes the motor out of circuit, but does so by first throwinginto circuit the resistance cells, as the circuit closers rise graduallyfrom the mercury, the shorter ones first disengaging. According to thepeculiarities of the construction of the cups and circuit closers, it isevident that thetwo resistance coils inay thus be thrown in or out ofcircuit simnl taneously or either in advance of the other, or one may bedispensed with. To reverse the machine, the other plate J0,1S in likemanner operated so as to descend, whereupon the following circuits willbe establi s hcd (see Fig. 5,). (it. being understood that l\ X, X X X,are the mercury cups associated with the long circuit closers): from thebat tery 13 to the mercury cup X thence along the conductor F to themercury cup X; thence along the strip J to the mercury cup X; thencealong the conductor F to tlie i i iercury cup X thence along conductor hto the armature, in the opposite direction from that in which thecurrent traversed the ar mature in the previous case; thence alongconductor F to mercury cup X thence through resistance E to mercury cup3;; thence to mercury cup X thence along strip J to mercury cups X andX; thence along conductor F to mercury cup X", and thence alongconductor F to the other terminal of battery, B thus placing theresistance E in series with the armature. At the same time the circuitthrough the field magnet is as follows: from battery B, through fieldmagnet coils 0 thence along conductoull to mercury cup X thence throughresistance D to mercury cup X thence along conductor F to mercury cup Xthence along strip J to mercury cup X thence along conductor F tomercury cup X"; thence to the other terminal of the battery B thusplacing the resistance D in series with the field co ls. If the motionbe continued further, which will happen as air is gradually torced outof the dash pot WW, until all the circuit closers are in contact withthe mercury in their respective opposed mercury cups, the tworesistances will be cut out, for the cups X, A X will now also beelectrically connected by strip J, and the armature circuit will then betraced as follows: from battery 13 to cup X thence along conductor F tomercury cup X"; thence along strip J to mercury cup X; thence alongconductor F to mercury cup X thence to armature; thence along conductorF to mercury cup X; thence along conductor F to mercury cup X"; thenceto the other terminal of battery 13 The field magnet current will betraced as follows: from battery 13 through field magnet coils O thencealong conductor F to mercury cup X thence along conductor F to mercurycup X; thence along strip J to mercury cups X", X and X thence alongconductor F to mercury cup X thence to the other terminal of battery BIt will be readily seen that these mercury cups are capable of Widevariation with regard to their number and positions and' relativearrangements. I simply suggest here one form of arrangement of cups andconnections. The connections also are capable of wide variations. I donot wish to limit myself to the precise form, number or relations of thesaid mercury cups, or to their precise construction or method ofsupports.

I claim as my invention '1. A controlling switch for a motor, consistingof a series of two sets of terminals and opposed circuit closerstherefor, adapted when one set of circuit closers is depressed to sendthe motor in one direction, and when the other is depressed to send themotor in the opposite direction each set of circuit closers before beingfully depressed completing thecircuit through resistances, saidresistances being cut out of circuit when the said circuit closers havereached the limit of their motion.

2. A controlling switch fora motor, consisting of a series of two setsof terminals and opposed circuit closers therefor, adapted when one setof circuit closers is depressed to send the motorin one direction, andwhen the other is depressed to send the motor in the opposite direction,each set of circuit closers before being fully depressed completing thecircuit through resistances, said resistances being out out of circuitwhen the said circuit closers have reached the limit of their motion andelectrically actuated means for control-v ling the application of saidsets of circuit closers.

3. A controlling switch containinga series of terminals with a series ofopposed movable circuit closers adapted to engage such terminalssuccessively when the switch is operated, and suitable resistances andcircuit connections so that when the first terminals are engaged thecircuit is closed through the armature and field magnets of the motorincluding the resistance in each circuit, and when all of such terminalsare engaged, the resistance is cut out.

4. A controlling switch for motors containing a series of terminals witha series of opposed movable circuit closers adapted to engage suchterminals successively when the switch is operated, and suitableresistances and circuit connections so that when the first terminals areengaged the circuit is closed through the armature and field magnets ofthe motor including the resistance in each circuit, and when all of suchterminals are engaged, the resistanceis cut out, said terminalsconsisting of mercury cups with mercury of different levels therein."

EMIL E. KELLER.

Witnesses:

WALTER J. GUNTHORP, EDITH M. BLACK.

